Speak(Easy)

LIFT YOUR SPIRITS!

It was 1923 New Orleans, and the Federal ban on alcohol was in full effect after the passage of the 18th amendment, legally speaking, but as historian Sally Asher declared, “it was more of a suggestion”. In a time of transformation between World Wars, hope and renewal filled the air with burgeoning cities, economic prosperity, and an aching to let loose after unprecedented destruction of WWI. The experimental and improvisational rhythms of jazz music flourished in the Big Easy, new dance crazes emerged, and a spirit of liberation and artistic pursuit grew among a new generation of young people during the Jazz Age. In an apparent attack on the city of New Orleans’ soul, the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol had been forbidden; yet, revelers of New Orleans would employ their creativity to keep the ‘spirits’ of the French Quarter alive. The clandestine underworld of the Speakeasies blossomed, where liquor, music, and dance flowed freely, in invigorating rhythms of rebellion.

Find the mystery door and utter the secret password to unlock a wild adventure complete with live music of the era, dance, and intertwining stories of diverse people from all walks of life and social class. Lois Long inspired  nom de plume "Rouge" reports tales of tangled relationships, dreams, and hopes of characters inspired by prominent figures of the era, including New Orleans' silent film star Leatrice Joy, notorious New Orleans underworld criminal "Silver Dollar Sam" Carollo, French Quarter bohemian artist Olive Leondhardt, and more. It was an era of liberation for women, as they traded Victorian traditions for bob haircuts and shorter hemlines, drinking and socializing among men for the first time, and of course, voting. Whether they were running bootlegging missions, operating gin bathtub parties, or wildly dancing on the speakeasy stage, women ran the revelry. In an adventurous cat and mouse game between enforcement and evader, dancers race against the raids and face hidden themes of this transformative time in American history that had a lasting impact on society, culture, and politics, exploring themes of freedom, perseverance, and resistance against government intervention in the private life, community, and the transformative power of art in the face of oppression. We toast to a city that never stopped drinking! Speak EASY. 🥂

Choreography: Monica Ordoñez

Live Music: Gabrielle Cavassa + Band 

Photos: Kristina Ganssle

Costumes: Jennifer Johnson

Artistic Director: Monica Ordoñez
Executive Director: Alexa Erck Lambert
 

Cast:

Alexa Erck Lambert 

Adrienne Simmons

Blake Bellanger

Cade Garafola 

Cailyn O'Hara

Clinton Parfait

Cullen Barrilleaux

Elijah Krieger 

Imani Johnson-Bey

Jakki Kalogridis 

Jay Canova

Joanna Farley 

Joel Sunsin

Julia Lemann

Justice Hues

Kristina Ganssle

Lauren Saizan 

Natalie Sunseri

Nicole Buckels

Sophia Rose

Waverly Evans 

Speak(Easy) is supported in part by the New Orleans Theatre Association and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.